Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hikikomori

/ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.77 in modern English

Syllables
hikiko-mori
IPA
/ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi/
23
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A reclusive person of this kind.

Countable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 引きこもり (literally “pulling inward, being confined”) and is often translated as “acute social withdrawal” or shut-in.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Questions

How do you pronounce hikikomori?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi/.
What does hikikomori mean?
A Japanese phenomenon whereby a person becomes a recluse from society, typically remaining isolated in a single room at home for a very long period.
Where does hikikomori come from?
Borrowed from Japanese 引きこもり (literally “pulling inward, being confined”) and is often translated as “acute social withdrawal” or shut-in.

How to pronounce hikikomori

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hikikomori”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hikikomori”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “hikikomori” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.